Counting device



C. C. MCCAlN ET AL COUNT ING DEVI CE Filed March 29, 1955 5 Sheets-Sheet1.

M A .a E: @i fo, j@ A/ fm W @www k N s i L m6 i mm mw ww mi@ n @J @NWNMay 26, 1936.

May 26, 1936 c. c. MccAlN ET AL 2,041,943 A COUNTING DEVICE Filed March29, 1955 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 May 25, 1936- c. c. MccAlN ET AL 2,041,943

COUNTING DEVICE Filed March 29, 1933 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 IJII "FMH- Allllllllllllllll/llll/l,

Patented May 26, 1936 UNITED STATES PATENT GFFICE La Grange,

Ill., assignors to Ditto Incorporated, a corporation of West VirginiaApplication March 29, 1933, Serial No. 663,388

5 Claims. (Cl. 235-132l duplicating `machine is driven by an electricmo` tor which is controlled by a switch mounted on the machine. Theduplicating machine comprises a rotatable platen cylinder and duringeach revolution of the cylinder a complete duplicating operation isperformed so that a duplicating sheet is discharged from the machine.The counting 5 mechanism comprises a scale alined with a pair of arcuateracks, the racks being engageable by pawls carried by a lever pivoted onthe frame of the duplicating machine. The lever may be displacedangularly by the operator to place the pawls in engagement with theracks at any desired position with respect to the scale. Then when themachine is set in operation, mechanism actuated in synchronism with theplaten cylinder causes the pawls to travel in a step by step mannertoward the zero position of the scale. When the pawls reach the zeroposition of the racks and scale, the pivoted lever opens the switchcontrolling the electric motor so that the machine ceases to operate.Obviously, the operator may adjust the pawls to any desired position onthe scale and thus obtain a predetermined number of duplicated copiesbefore the machine ceases to operate. An adjustable stop is provided inconnection with the racks and may be secured temporarily in any desiredposition so that the operator may bring the pivoted lever against thestop each time the machine is set in operation. Thus, if a predeterminednumber of duplicated copies are to be made of a plurality of mastersheets, the

adjustable stop may be xed to permit the machine to operate a sufficientnumber of cycles to provide the desired number of copies in eachinstance. During the time the machine is in operation, the operator maywatch the movement of the pivoted lever and the pawls with respect tothe scale and open the switch at any desired point as it is notnecessary to wait until the pawls reach the zero position of the scaleand racks.

Other objects and advantages will become apparent as the followingdetailed description progrses, reference being had to the accompanyingdrawings, wherein- Fig. 1 is a side elevation of a hectograph machinewhich comprises counting mechanism embodying the invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged section taken on line 2-2 of Fig. l.

Fig. 3 is a fragmentary plan view of the hecto- 5 graph machine shown inFig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a section taken on line 4--4 of Fig. 3.

Fig. 5 is a section taken on line 5-5 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 6 is a section taken on line 6--6 of Fig. 4.

Fig. 'l is a section taken on the same line as 10 Fig. 6, butillustrating the parts of the improved counting mechanism in changedpositions.

Fig. 8 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken on the same line as Fig.6.

Fig. 9 is an enlarged fragmentary section taken 15 on the same line asFig. 6.

Fig. 10 is a section taken on line Ill-I0 of Fig. 9, and

Fig. 11 is a section taken on line II-II of Fig. 9.

Referring to the drawings wherein mechanism embodying a preferred formof the invention is illustrated, the reference character I0 designatesgenerally a hectograph machine of the rotary type. The hectographmachine I0 comprises a 25 frame Il in which a platen cylinder I2 isjournalled for rotation, the platen cylinder being provided at one endwith a stub shaft I4 projecting from the frame. The outer end of thestub shaft I4 has an eccentric I5 fixed to it for a 30 purpose whichwill presently appear.

The duplicating cylinder I2 is provided with a removable gelatin band I8of the type usually employed in machines of this character. Meansincluding a feed tray I9 is provided for feeding 35 sheets to beduplicated to the duplicating cylinder I2 in such manner that the sheetsare brought into contact with the duplicating band I8 and thendischarged to a tray 20 mounted on the frame II. The means for drivingthe feeding mechanism and the duplicating cylinder I2 comprises anelectric motor 22 mounted in the frame Il and connected by gearing 23 toa relatively large gear 24 carried by the duplicating cylinder I2. Theelectric motor 22 is controlled by 45 an electric switch 26 mounted inthe frame Il. The switch 26 comprises an actuating lever 21, the switchbeing preferably of the type wherein displacement of the lever 21 willcause the switch mechanism to snap into and out of its closed and openpositions.

The improved counting mechanism preferably comprises anti-frictionrollers 30 which ride upon and are approximately diametrically disposedwith respect to the eccentric Il. The antifriction rollers 30 arerotatably journaled on pins 32 which project from a sector or plate 33pivoted on a bushing 35, the bushing being carried by a bolt 36 which isscrew-threaded into the frame Il and is provided with a lock nut 31(Figs. 4 and 5). The construction is such that each time the duplicatingdrum I2 makes one complete revolution, the sector or plate 33 will beoscillated through a predetermined angle. Thus. if it is assumed thatthe eccentric I5, the rollers 30 and the sector or plate 33 occupy therelative positions in which they are shown in full lines in Fig. at the'beginning of each cycle of operations of the machine, it will bereadily understood that during the rst 180 of rotation o! theduplicating cylinder I2, the stub shaft I4 and the eccentric i5, theparts illustrated in Fig. 5 will assume the positions wherein they areshown in dotted lines in Fig. 5. During the last 180 of rotation of theduplicating drum, the Darts illustrated in Fig. 5 will be returned tothe positions wherein they are shown in full lines in that figure.

The sector or plate 33 carries an arcuate rack bar 40 which is disposedopposite a rack bar 4| fixed to a sheet metal housing member 42, thehousing member 42 being secured to the frame Il by bolts 43 (Figs. 4, 6and 7). The bolts 43 are provided with spacing sleeves 44. These spacingsleeves 44 ride in arcuate slots 45 provided in the side edges of thesector or plate 33.

The rack bars 4U and 4i are engageable by dogs or pawls 50 and 5i,respectively, the pawls being urged yieldingly into engagement with theteeth of the rack bars by springs 53. The pawls 5|! and 5I are pivotedon a pin 54 carried by a lever 55, the pawls 50 and 5l being disposed onopposite sides of the lever (Fig. 11). The lever 55 is Journaled on abushing 56 disposed around the bushing 35. A spring 51 disposed around ahub 59 provided on the lever 55 yieldingly urges the lever 55 in aclockwise direction (Figs. 1, 6, 7, 8 and 9). The lever 55 is providedwith an arcuate slot 60 to accommodatethe stub shaft I4.

Pivoted to the free end of the lever 55 is a lever 62 carrying a pin 63which is engageable with the tail ends oi the pawls 50 and 5I. The lever62 is L-shaped and its lower end 62a is disposed approximatelyhorizontally. The end 62a is pivoted on a pin 62h projecting from thelever 55. The lever 62 is provided with a nger piece 64 in closeproximity to a finger piece 65 formed on the lever 55, the constructionbeing such that the operator may displace the ringer piece 64 toward theiinger piece 65 to displace the lever 62 angularly about the pin 62h andagainst the action of the springs 53 to cause the pin 63 to disengagethe pawls 5D and 5i from the rack bars 4U and 4I, respectively. An

gular displacement of the lever 62 in a counterclockwise direction (Fig.6) around the pin 62h is limited by a stop pin 68 which projects fromthe lever 55.

Disposed above the rack bar 40 and carried by the housing member 42 is ascale 68 with appropriate indicia.

A finger projecting from the free end oi the lever 55 is adapted toengage the switch lever 21 when the lever 55 is displaced in acounterclockwise direction (Fig. 6). Il the lever 21 is then in theposition in which it is illustrated in full lines in Fig. 1, it will bedisplaced into the position wherein it is shown in dotted lines in thesame figure to open the switch 23.

An adjustable stop member 12 is mounted on the housing member 42 (Figs.1, 2 and 3). The stop member 12 comprises a bent bar 13 pro vided with aU-shaped portion 1li which projects through a slot formed between thescale 69 and a strip 16 carried by the upper edge oi the housing member42 and formed integral with the scale 69. A pin 11 which projectsthrough the U-shaped portion '14 is engageable with the bottom surfacesoi' the scale 63 and the fiange 16 and prevents Withdrawal of the bentbar 13 from the counting mechanism but permits the bent bar to bedisplaced longitudinally in either direction along the scale 69. Adownwardly extending lug '18 forming part of the bent bar 13 has a pinB0 screw-threaded through it, the outer end of the pin 80 being providedwith a knurled knob 82 whereby the operator of the duplicating machinemay rotate the pin to cause longitudinal displacement thereof relativeto the lug 1S and the housing member 42. Swiveled upon the pin 80 butheld against longitudinal displacement relative thereto is a block 34.The pin 83 may be rotated to bring the block 64 into frlctlonalengagement with the outer surface of the housing member 42 to hold thestop member 12 in any desired position upon the scale 65. Assuming thatthe stop member 12 has been secured in the position wherein it isillustrated in Figs. 1, 3 and 6, it will be readily understood that thelever 55 may be displaced in a clockwise direction (Figs. 1 and 6) bythe operator to bring it into engagement with the stop member 12. Whenthe operator displaces the lever 55 in this manner, it is necessary todisplace the ringer piece 64 to disengage the pawls 50 and 5i from therack bars 40 and 4 I, respectively.

The operation of the improved counting mechanism is substantially asfollows: Assuming that the gelatin band IB has been treated with amaster sheet in the usual manner and that it is desired to obtain apredetermined number oi duplicates of the master sheet, the lever 55 isadjusted so that its upper end is alined with the corresponding mark onthe scale 69. So long as the machine is not in operation, the pawls 50and 5i will remain in engagement with the rack bars 40 and 4|,respectively, and retain the lever 55 in its adjusted position. Now, ifthe electric motor is set in operation by displacing the switch lever 21from the position wherein it is shown in dotted lines in Fig. 1 to theposition wherein it is shown in full lines in the same ligure, theduplicating machine will operate as described above so that the sheetsto be duplicated will be fed one by one from the feed table I8 to theduplicating drum and thence to the tray 20. During each revolution ofthe duplicating drum, the sector or plate 33 will be displaced from theposition wherein it is shown in full lines in Fig. 5 to the positionwherein it is shown in dotted lines and then returned to the positionwherein it is shown in full lines. The action of the pawls 50 and 5|during this oscillatory movement oi the sector or plate 33 isillustrated in Figs. 8 and 9. Fig. 8 illustrates the action of the pawls50 and 5I when the sector or plate is being displaced in acounterclockwise direction (Figs. 5 and 8) to shift the plate 33 fromthe'position wherein it is shown in full lines in Fig. 5 to the positionwherein it is shown in dotted lines in the same figure. During thismovement of the sector 33 the pawl 5l remains in engagement with therack 40 carried by the plate 33 so that the lever 55 is displacedangularly with the plate 33 and in the same direc- 7s tion. When theplate 33 is returned to the position wherein it is shown in f ull linesin Fig. 5, the pawl 50 trails over the rack 40 and the pawl 5l engagesthe rack 4| and prevents the lever 55 from returning with the plate 33.The action oi the pawls 5U and 5I during the return stroke of the plate33 is illustrated in Fig. 9. It will be readily understood that the pawl5I will advance one tooth upon the stationary rack Il for eachrevolution of the duplicating cylinder and that when the required numberof copies have been duplicated, the finger 'l0 will displace the switchlever 21 to open the switch 26 so that the machine will cease operating.However, as stated above, it is not necessary to wait until the iingeropens the switch 26 as the operator may open the switch 26 at any timeby means of the lever 21.

While we have shown and described certain embodiments of our invention,it is to be understood that it is capable of many modiiications.Changes, therefore in the construction and ar- Y rangement may be madewithout departing from the spirit and scope of the invention asdisclosed in the appended claims, in which it is our intention to claimall novelty inherent in our invention as broadly as possible, in view ofthe prior art.

We claim:

1. Mechanism for counting the number of operations of a machine. whichmechanism comprises a stationary rack, a movable rack, means foroscillating the movable rack in timed relation to the operation of themachine, a movable lever, and pawls carried by said movable lever andengageable with said racks, one of said pawls cooperating with saidmovable rack to displace said movable lever step by step duringoperation of the machine and another of said pawls cooperating with saidstationary rack to hold said movable lever against retraction each timeit is advanced a step.

2. Mechanism for counting the number of operations of a machine, whichmechanism comprises a stationary rack, a movable rack, means foroscillating the movable rack in timed relation to the operation of themachine, a movable lever, spring pressed pawls carried by said movablelever and engageable with said racks, one

of said pawls cooperating with said movable rack to displace saidmovable lever step by step during operation of the machine and anotherof said pawls cooperating with said stationary rack to hold said movablelever against retraction each time it is advanced a step, and means forretracting said pawls to disengage them from said racks.

3. Mechanism for stopping a power driven machine at the end oi!v apredetermined number of cycles of operation of said machine, saidmechanism comprising a stationary rack, a movable rack, means actuatedby said machine for oscillating said movable rack and in timed relationtherewith. a movable lever, pawls carried by said movable lever andengageable with said racks, one of said pawls cooperating with saidmovable rack to displace said movable lever step by step and another ofsaid pawls cooperating with said stationary rack to hold said movablelever against retraction each time it is yadvanced a step, and

means controlled by said lever for stopping said machine.

4. Mechanism for counting the number o! operations of a machine, whichmechanism comprises a stationary rack, a movable rack, means foroscillating the movable rack in timed relation to the operation of themachine, a movable lever, pawls carried by said movable lever andengageable with said racks, one of said pawls cooperating with saidmovable rack to displace said movable lever step by step duringoperation of the machine and another of said pawls cooperating with saidstationary rack to hold said movable lever against retraction each timeit is advanced a step, and yielding means tending to prevent the step bystep movement of said movable lever.

5. Mechanism for counting th cycles of operation of a machine, saidcounting mechanism Acomprising a rack, a second rack, means actuated bythe machine for oscillating said second rack, pawls engaging said racks,and visual indicating means including a scale and a member carrying saidpawls and displaced by movement of the second rack in a step by stepmanner during the

